Part of me wants to go back in time and tell everyone who ever said to me, as a new mother, “The dishes can wait!” how wrong they are.  In fact, I am starting to think that the importance of living in a peaceful, orderly environment is paramount, especially with kids.  Is it possible to de-couple guilt, shame and morality from the mess of our houses.  Don’t ask me.  I have shame and guilt about my house, and I’m not convinced that’s an entirely bad thing.  I am however, convinced that our living spaces are directly associated with our mental baggage, and I also tend to think that there is a relationship with our living environment and our ability to be responsible, accountable, and to evolve as individuals.   But that does sound a bit moralizing doesn’t it?  I like to think of myself that doesn’t really jump on bandwagons (yes, I know, I’m kidding myself), but I have fallen hard for the Konmari craze, so I just need to talk about it a little more, if that’s ok…because it’s so radical.  For un-evolved little me.

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First of all, my own parents did a phenomenal job of raising us with the skills they had and the challenges they faced.  And there were some missing bits in my childhood, including